What Is Estate Planning?

An estate plan is something that everyone should have in place. It allows you to let others know your intentions regarding your medical decisions, assets and guardianship once you are gone rather than allowing Washington State make those decisions for you. It also helps you avoid probate and give access to assets immediately rather than waiting several months until an estate is settled. Let Symmes Law Group carefully guide you through these critical decisions with a caring, collaborative hand and help you plan for your future and beyond.

What is Probate?

A death in the family is one of the hardest times for people. What makes it even more difficult is when families have to deal with paperwork and legal issues for the deceased person and don’t know where to start.

Probate is the process of appointing a personal representative to notify creditors, pay debts, transfer and liquidate assets of the estate, and it allows a forum for family members to contest a will or the division of assets.

How A Seattle Probate Lawyer Can Help?

If the deceased individual planned ahead and had an estate plan prepared, the task of administering their estate can be relatively straight forward. However, sometimes those left in charge of distributing assets to beneficiaries and closing accounts are not comfortable with their responsibility. Other times, people don’t plan ahead or have an outdated will, and the estate administration becomes more complicated.

In general when somebody passes away and they have a will, the will must be filed within the Washington superior court in the county the person resided in within 40 days of death. You may be required to open a probate case if the person owned real estate or the person had assets totaling more than $100,000. Otherwise a personal property affidavit may be filed with the court to avoid probate.
Symmes Law Group is experienced in helping clients with the administration of a decedent’s estate as well as other probate matters. What this means is that an attorney can help his client sell property, transfer assets to beneficiaries, and navigate probate court as needed.

If you have any questions about what needs to be done after a death in your family, Symmes Law Group, LLC for a free consultation.